Taxi and Private Hire Operators
A taxi is a vehicle licensed for carrying passengers. The
driver of a taxi can pick passengers up from the streets
and can ply for hire in a public place.
A private hire vehicle is also licensed for carrying
passengers. However, all fares must be pre-booked.
It is different from a taxi in that a private hire car driver
cannot pick passengers up from the streets or ply for hire in
public places.
Vehicles do not need to be licensed while being used in
connection with a funeral or a wedding. Vehicles also do
not need to be licensed while being used for carrying
passengers under a contract for its exclusive hire for a
period of not less than 24 hours. e.g. extended touring
holiday when a hired car with a driver are available
to a holidaymaker throughout a holiday
period.
A taxi or private hire vehicle must be no more than seven
years old from the date of first registration. After that the
vehicle must be replaced with a vehicle no more than five
years old. A purpose built taxi-cab meeting M1
specification must be no more than ten years old from the date
of first registration. After that the vehicle must
be replaced with a vehicle no more than five years old.
A taxi or private hire operator who wishes to drive their
vehicle also needs a licence to act as a taxi/private hire car
driver.
